Ashley's POV
My legs feel like lead from lack of use. Mitch and I have our arms around each other less as a romantic gesture than just for support.
We found out that we were missing for 3 days, and have been recovering for 2. In the hospital, we were both "force-fed" nutrients to try and pick our health back up. We were both unconscious for the first day, but our bodies got no rest whatsoever, since they were working to take in the nourishment the entire time.
Mitch looked especially worn (probably from his little run), yet quite happy. The curiosity of what my mum said to him was gnawing at me inside, but he clearly wanted to wait until we were alone to tell me. Yet when exactly would that be?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mitch and I were sitting next to each other on the train back to Cheltenham, with Adam and Alesa sitting across from us. I get a wave of nausea as I remember my last train ride. I don't think trains would be the same for me ever again.
I feel my eyelids getting heavy, and I'm having extreme trouble keeping them open.
"Ashley, you look like you're about to pass out." Adam comments.
"Mmhmm." is all I can muster.
"Why don't you get some sleep. It'll be a while before we get there, so you have some time." Alesa assures me. I manage a weak nod, and let my head fall down on Mitch's shoulder.
Mitch's POV
I can't help but smile as I see Ashley sound asleep on my shoulder. Adam does too, and I know he remembers the last time we were all in London together for EuroGamer when I was the one asleep on Ashley's shoulder.
I have my arm around her waist, pulling her as close as the seat will allow without being uncomfortable.
"We should all get some sleep I think. Especially you, Mitch." Alesa says. Normally I would make some joke about her calling me ugly, but I honestly just don't have the energy to right now. I leaned my cheek against Ashley's head and let the sounds of the train be my lullaby as I close my eyes, and drift off to the only intentional sleep I've had in days.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I open my eyes and I can't see anything. It's completely pitch black. Then suddenly, I hear a scream. It's Ashley's. I try to get up, but something's binding me to my chair. It's too dark for me to see what.
"How nice of you to wake up, Mitch."
That voice. It's Jeff's. I try to get up, but I'm too weak to.
"Look at that. Too weak to even stand up. How are you going to protect her now?" he sneers.
"MITCH!" Ashley's voice screams.
"ASHLEY!" I call out.
"MITCH!" Her voice starts out as a scream, echoing in my head, but then calms down to normal volume level.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mitch!"
I open my eyes and snap back into reality. It was a dream. Of course. Ashley's leaning over me, concern in her eyes.
"You going to wake up this century?" she jokes. "We're almost there, I figured I should wake you up about 10 minutes early, since you always take forever." I smirk. She's right of course, I was a heavy sleeper, and would honestly pass out wherever I was when I was tired. Hence how the whole 'sleeping on Ashley's shoulder' event occurred last year.
Ashley's still lingering over me, so I sneak a quick peck on her lips before she leans away. Adam lifts an eyebrow at me as if to say I saw that. I just wink at Ashley, to which she replies by rolling her eyes at me.
Five minutes later, the train comes to a stop, and the doors slide open. Our large group files through, and out onto the platform.
Ashley's POV
It takes multiple taxi's to get us there, but we finally all arrive at my house. Mitch and I have to drag our feet to get into the house. The train ride didn't seem to do us much justice. At my house, I'm not sure if my mum wants me to stay and talk to everyone, so Mitch and I walk towards the living room.
"Oh, no missy. You're going to bed. Why don't you and Mitch go upstairs to your room and get some peace and quiet so you can sleep. We'll be as quiet as we can down here." she says. My dad looks like he wants to say something about Mitch and I being upstairs alone in my room, but he doesn't, probably realizing that we're not in the condition to do anything but walk, and just barely that. I nod, yawning.
"Okay." I agree. It's only 5 PM, but I figure we'll end up sleeping for a long time. We drag our way upstairs and go into my room, closing the door behind us. I fall down onto my bed, but Mitch hesitates.
"Come here, dummy." I tell him before he can say anything. He lays down next to me and puts arms around my waist. I turn around and cuddle into his chest, finally being able to fully relax where I want to be.
